Inspiration is a perfect title for this session from jazz veteran Sam Rivers. Having earned his chops playing with everyone from Miles Davis to Cecil Taylor, Rivers in the 1960s was both a consummate explorer and a creator... more » of spectacular melodies. Here he goes full-tilt in the explorative direction, with a stellar orchestra of guiding jazz lights navigating Rivers's heated, improvisationally energetic compositions--each of them bristling with intensity. And his "Beatrice" is a lovely, decades-old dedication to his wife, a piece that flows from the heart brilliantly. --Andrew Bartlett« less
Inspiration is a perfect title for this session from jazz veteran Sam Rivers. Having earned his chops playing with everyone from Miles Davis to Cecil Taylor, Rivers in the 1960s was both a consummate explorer and a creator of spectacular melodies. Here he goes full-tilt in the explorative direction, with a stellar orchestra of guiding jazz lights navigating Rivers's heated, improvisationally energetic compositions--each of them bristling with intensity. And his "Beatrice" is a lovely, decades-old dedication to his wife, a piece that flows from the heart brilliantly. --Andrew Bartlett
CD Reviews
Finally, Sam Rivers writing can be heard by all
08/15/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It is about time someone recorded Sam River's big band compositions. The music here is exciting, the performances solid, and the personnel first rate. The music lives up to Sam River's stature as one of the few great masters of the music."
I can only give it 5 stars?
Rick Mathis | 02/28/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I am a very fortunate man. Why? Is it because I have finally found a pair of shorts that don't ride up? No, no, no. It's because I live in the same town as Sam Rivers. I have had the great oppotunity to see Mr. Rivers on several occasions both with his regular trio and in various big band outtings. The big band groups have always held special status for me. I have never seen a musician "play" a group the way Sam Rivers does. He has the extraordinary gift of being able to pull the most amazing performaces from the other players. His own playing is always astounding, ranging from brash to playfull. What, you ask, is all the big hooplah about? Grab this disc and find out. Be warned though, if your idea of "jazz" is John Tesh, you're in for a rude awakening. This music will grab you by the collar and not let go! So, bring your ears. You'll be glad you did."
Jazz at its best
12/31/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Thankfully, in a music scene dominated by regurgitations of the past of which are hailed as brilliant artistic accomplishments, Sam Rivers has raised the bar and shows us the music can be fresh, exciting, and innovative."
Thoughts on Rivers' music over over the past 30 years
Mark J | San Francisco CA | 04/14/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Big bands = dynamics & discipline? Combos = creativity & emotional range? Those limits don't apply here!You've got to be willing to show how good you are to play in one of Rivers' bands.If you bring something with you, this is the stuff to listen to. Not for a Top-40 sensibility - it's never ever "jazz lite". Very sound-driven, the politics of instrumental ensemble playing have rarely been presented in a manner so varied and clear to this listener."
Jazz as architecture
Case Quarter | CT USA | 07/03/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"the orchestration here is more traditional than i expected, what with an assemblage of horn blowers associated with free jazz, though free jazz is sometimes a code meaning for strong improvisers, as is the case here with the ribvea all-star orchestra. the brilliance of this recording is in the orchestral scaffolding and how it supports the soloists, all blowing over the top what seems like a composed jam session, individual horns often on the tail of one another, completing a single idea by the previous player, as though rivers devised a set a musical problems, provided the setting, and turned loose a group of horn players to work out solutions. from song to song, from space to space (was it sun ra who said space is the place?), i had the feeling that whenever a player was struck with inspiration to say something he seized the moment, that each moment was a new possibility in an unnumbered series of possibilities.
Track Listings (7) - Disc #1